Monday 6 September
by Nonie Wales, Managing Director for People and Culture
Equipped with mega-sized coffees at The Boatshed Café in Darwin, a small team of dedicated ‘gym buddies’ kick-started the week with a Boost Breakfast led by Michelle Taylor, Matrix’s General Manager Northern Australia.
Warm up exercises: name three things you and your organisation are proud of achieving in 2010.
Moving to cardio: what’s going on right now in around your organisation that’s impacting both positive/negative & how can you make the most of this, while minimising any potential negative impact?
Body weights: think of a leadership situation you were involved in recently which was potentially difficult or challenging but which, to your surprise, went well or better than expected. What does this say about your emerging strengths, skills and qualities as a leader? And what will be different for your others who report to you? And Board members you report to?
Star jumps! Think of a time in the past six months when you felt motivated and in the flow… what factors inspired you? What do you think was your effect on your team and colleagues? What effectiveness did people see?
Resistance exercise: what’s difficult? Recruitment and retention of staff in northern Australia is a huge pressure. Lots of jobs in the community sector with a small labour pool. What works? Recruiting for attitude and values not just skills-match. Spending time building the relationship during the induction phase. Finding housing quickly for staff re-locating, especially important in Darwin where housing is in short supply.
Warm-down: coach Michelle gave a precise of an oldie but a goodie: First, break all the rules (1999 Buckingham & Coffman). The best managers are those that build a work environment where staff say they are clear about what is expected of them, they have the resources needed, have opportunities to do their best work everyday, receive recognition for doing good work and feel cared for as a person.
